The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-04-29
HIS LAST CHANCE.

F1IO LAOl CHA ME-.
Alfred lockwood had made a gallant
fight against hard fate. but he was be-
ginning TO feel that it was no use.
"WeIl, thank God ' he thought, Il
am at least alone. There is neither
mother nor sister dependent upon me
and when l am found d ad here in my
room some cold morning, no mother or
ststcr Will weep Owe" my untimely eni.
And ye- it il hard, tOO--a healthy hon
esl young man. only TWENTY-FIVE year of
age Wi. n no outlook ahead but starva-
ton. Is there nothing 1 can dO-abso-
lutlv no. hing? If that be really So, it
l. bette. Tor me to go and make room Tor
better stuff for I'm not fit to live. But
I'll uOJ believe iJ-no! I'll make one
more effort I've tried all the grnteeI
way. II try something lower down If
u $ only sweeping a crossing But /
haven't money enough to buy broom.
And why nOL>'
He had been walking to and fro in the
diugy rOOm-nOw not his own since he
had failed To pay the last weeks rent
and as he thought aloud. he paused and
glanced out of the window
- row OF new houses was being put up
over the way, and as Alfred looked, one
Of tie hOd-carriers slipped as he was
ascending the ladder and fell to the
ground
Ill may bea chance, he muttered-
''mE last chance"
And he seized his hat, drew it over
hi brow. and fed down stairs.
The man who had fallen had already
gore, with .Is brO.en ankle, to the hos
piraI and On boss stood moOdiIy gazing
&C 3. fl ne and m.gtariuZ TO himself.
. Con .E taat mans place. asked
Alfred. -guc ilg ta. boss OH the elbow.
"- ..i-E c.. carry q hCd.'
-
a. tLe applicant, and taking IL his re-
fined face ana 5eedy LhrcauDare clothes
1T glance. why, you're a-sort of
gentleman
Yes; he sort that starves to death,
unLe-S he can turn hOd carrier" said
AlIr.d bite ~ For heayens sake, sir,
give me q chance.
"Au Iigh Here. bring that blouse
and OverillS here"
He tosse them to Alfred, who hur-
ri--ly drew them on over his kwn
clothes.
yoU re- aut uret to il. J. you get dizzy
headed. well #e sending Tho second
cripple to the hospital"
Alfred poised the h.d on hiE shoulder
as la lHH seen the others IC. and then
Tiuu'v 1sccua-d the ladder
Lie had been oi1Zr when ne came out
bu. 1t rs from hunger. and nc forgot it
He didn't fail. AN. when at SIX o'clock
the boss paid him for MS -uare OF the
day, he cOmplimen,e him too.
" It's the -.ntleUlGL wins. somehow.
after ALL Why, my man. you've Carried
more mods up that ladder than any
other carrier to day. What's your
namel"
alfred Redwood"
"Au right. lockwood You come
every day till the other man comes
back, and by that time perhaps we can
find something better for you
Thank you.
And ,n4 The young man turned his
steps tOHSrd the uoa. est cheap rest u
rant, and uO one that night tssteI any
thing So grateful to the pa ate as Alfreds
butteTc1 rolls and hot cOif q.
II was six week. before Larry
OFIyuu's broken ankle was pronounced
well again and when ne came back no
otaer work had as yet turned up for
Alfred lockwood.
But the youugmsn cougra-u'a ed Larry
all the SAM, and gave up his H0d and
overalI5 without complaining word
He was not so desperate as he had
been six weeks ago His ront was paid
in advance and he had put b. enough to
pay Tor MS meals while no looked for
another job. He found out that no
strong healthy young man need s,arve
in large city as long as he possess es
two willing honest hands.
He WaS just thinking so while he bado
the boss and the men go. d morning"
when sCreJ ans. il several different keys.
attracted all eyes towards a light car
riage, violently dragged by a runaway
horse which was tearing down the
street
"CIear the way-clear the way p shout
ed n dozen voices.
And only Alfred seemed tosee the pale
set face of the girl IN the carriage, whose
hands still Crasped the reius, though her
slender wrists were pOweTless to control
the horse.
With one bound he was in the middle
of the street; the next, the flying horse
seemed about to tTampIe him; but at
that teady gaze and voice Of stern
command, the frightened creature
swerved hesitateI, and in JHatmomeats
hesitation, Alfred had grasped the reins
while he soothed the animal with voice
and gentle uch.
All danger VS. over in a few minutes
and then the young lady tainted.
Alfred secured the horse, stiu tremb-
ling with excitement and fright, and
and with The bos-'s assistance lifted the
iseLsible girl out of the carriage.
Good powers Il it lsu't Miss Alton
herself eEclsiuej the boss. Young
man, YOU e. BOD luck Her father is the
owner of the .oH of houses we're just
DutJ.l- up, alj il. ly auCt. cr lot be 5iccs.
Shes his Only child, and he loves the
ground she walk on. Ou are in luck
and uo mistake.
When Miss Attn had recovered suf-
ncienay TO be put in her carriage, she
begged Alfred t. take the place beside
her, for she did not dare to handle the
reins again that day.
Mr.. Alton could not find words to ex-
press his gratitude. He insisted on
hearing AlfI.ds whole story, and then
it wa wonderful how many things he
could find for the young man to do.
Finally Alfred found himself in
stalled az Mr.. Alton'- secretary. The
old gentleman treated him as a son, de-
clared he could not get along without
him, and wondered how his life had ever
gone smoothly in the days before his
arrival.
At first all this seemed divine, and then
Was Alfred uugrateful?
No. indeed; he was not that. But
much against his viii, it was at last
borne in upon his mind that, until now,